Upper and Lower Loop of Yellowstone Tour – 2 Days
Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service
location_on Destination: Yellowstone National Park
payments Price: $650
Explore both the Upper and Lower Loop of Yellowstone National Park in two days. This is one of our most popular tours of Yellowstone; both loops in two days. Two unforgettable days in the world’s first National Park… Fantastic!
What’s Included:
- Professional guide
- Hotel Pickup from Jackson or Teton Village
- Bagged lunches for both days
- Locally made granola bars and water
- Use of Binoculars for each guest
- Use of Spotting scope
Not Included:
- Overnight Accommodations
- Breakfast and Dinner
- Park Entry fee. The park entry fee is $20.00 per adult, guests who have an annual pass or a golden age pass can use these passes on the tour as well.
| Duration | Accommodates | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Public Trip Two days (7:30am-6:30pm each day) |
up to 9 participants | $650 per participant |
| Tour is limited to guests 4 years and older | ||
| Private Trip Two days (7:30am-6:30pm each day) |
up to 9 participants | $4999 |
| Each additional participant $550 |
Tour Itinerary
Day One!
Our day begins as we head north from Jackson, WY towards Yellowstone National Park, passing through Grand Teton on the way and taking time for wildlife and photography stops.
Wildlife that is often observed on this tour are bison, grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, moose, elk, eagles, mule deer, pronghorn, and coyotes. We will have stops throughout the tour for guests to get out of the vehicle and observe the different wildlife viewing opportunities.
Generally our first major stop will be at Upper Geyser Basin, or the Old Faithul area. The Old Faithful Geyser will erupt every ninety minutes and we will make a point of witnessing the eruption. In addition to Old Faithful there are numerous other fantastic geysers that will erupt with less certainty and frequency, which we may also have the good fortune to witness, including: Beehive, Castle, The Lion Group, Sawmill, Grand, Daisy, etc.
We will venture north making stops at most major points of interests for short and exciting boardwalks excursions, viewpoints and wildlife viewing opportunities. The Grand Prismatic Spring, Clepsydra Geyser, Excelsior Geyser crater, and the Fountain Paint Pots are just a few of the features we will visit while exploring the boardwalks through the Geyser basins.
Also features of note include the Firehole Lake Loop, Great Fountain Geyser, White Dome Geyser, Pink Cone Geyser, and more!
After a picnic lunch we will spend some time in the vehicle as we make our way North towards the North Entrance of Yellowstone. Some points of interests include Norris Geyser Basin, Roaring Mountain, Gardiner’s Hole, the Golden Gate and Mammoth Hot Springs area.
After a thorough exploration of The Upper and Lower Mammoth Terrace we continue down the valley into Gardiner, Montana, passing over the 45th parallel and out of the North entrance.
Usually we head straight out to Chico Hot Springs Resort or to the lodging of your choice in Gardiner, Montana.
Day Two!
We will depart at approximately 8:00am and begin the second day of our tour entering Yellowstone via the North Entrance. On day two wildlife is a major theme as we will be spending the morning hours making our way from Mammoth Hot Springs south toward, and into Lamar Valley, scoping for wildlife along the way. Some points of interest as we approach Lamar Valley include the Gardiner River Bridge, Undine Falls, Black Tail Plateau, Petrified Tree, and onto Lamar Valley.
Considered some of the richest grassland habitat for large ungulates in the lower 48 states, Lamar Valley is famous for it’s bison herds, elk and antelope herds, large predators such as the grizzly Bear and grey Wolf, all of which are a common site throughout this area of Yellowstone.
By lunch time we will have backtracked out of Lamar Valley and will continue heading south over Dunraven Pass towards the Canyon Area, with a stop at Tower Falls and numerous vantage points along the way.
We will spend some time at the Canyon Area exploring the Upper and Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River, 109ft, and 308 feet tall respectively. We will also have the opportunity for numerous short walks to overlooks into the canyon for stunning views at every turn.
We will be heading south from the Canyon area still with some ground to cover. We will pass through Hayden Valley (fantastic wildlife here, bison, bear, and wolves, a great spot to glass for wildlife), Mud Volcano area, Yellowstone Lake, and West Thumb.
We will have completed our Grand Loop at West Thumb and will continue south from there back to Jackson, usually arriving in Jackson between 6:00-7:00 pm, concluding our two days in Yellowstone.
Should I Choose The One-Day or Two-Day Guided Tour of Yellowstone?
The right choice depends on how much time you have and how much of Yellowstone you want to see. The one-day Lower Loop tour covers major highlights like Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, Hayden Valley, and Yellowstone Lake, making it a great option if you only have a single day available or prefer a more relaxed pace. The two-day tour covers both the Upper and Lower Loops, adding destinations like Mammoth Hot Springs, Norris Geyser Basin, the Firehole Lake Loop, and Lamar Valley, which is considered one of the best wildlife viewing areas in the park. If you have the extra day and want a more complete experience of Yellowstone’s geysers, canyons, and wildlife, including a higher chance of seeing wolves and bears in Lamar Valley, the two-day tour is the better choice.
Do You Recommend a Hotel To Stay At?
Chico Hot Springs Resort has been a favorite for people on our tours. However, any hotel in Gardiner, Montana is a great place to stay to be close to our tours and get a great night’s sleep.
Is This The Best Way To See Wildlife In Yellowstone?
The two-day tour is one of the best wildlife viewing options available, largely because of its dedicated time in Lamar Valley on day two. Often called the “Serengeti of North America,” Lamar Valley is considered some of the richest grassland habitat for large mammals in the lower 48 states, known for its bison herds, elk and antelope herds, and regular sightings of grizzly bears and gray wolves. Combined with wildlife stops throughout both days of the loop, including areas like Hayden Valley, this tour offers significantly more time and ground covered for wildlife viewing than a single-day trip, giving you a much stronger chance of memorable sightings.
Do We Need a Guided Tour of Yellowstone?
A guided tour from Teton Scenic Floats is one of the best options when visiting the park Your guide handles navigation across roughly 300 miles of park roads, times stops at geysers like Old Faithful for the best chance of catching an eruption, and knows where wildlife has recently been active in areas like Lamar Valley and Hayden Valley, details that are difficult to know in advance on your own. Guides also provide binoculars and a spotting scope for the group, share the history and geology of the park along the way, and take care of logistics like hotel pickup, so you can spend your time enjoying the park rather than planning the route.
What Makes This Guided Wildlife Tour The Best Choice For Someone Visiting?
This two-day tour combines comprehensive coverage of Yellowstone with the convenience and expertise of an experienced, local guide. As an Authorized Permittee of the National Park Service, the tour is led by Teton Floats’ own professionally trained, in-house guides, with nearly 20 years of experience in the Greater Yellowstone region. Over two days, you’ll see both the Upper and Lower Loops, including Old Faithful, Grand Prismatic Spring, Mammoth Hot Springs, the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and Lamar Valley, one of the best wildlife viewing areas in North America. The tour includes hotel pickup, bagged lunches both days, locally made snacks and water, and the use of binoculars and a spotting scope, all in a small group setting of up to 9 guests, with a flexible itinerary that adapts to wildlife activity, weather, and your group’s interests.
